General music theory
Reference:
Azarova V.V.
Oratorio-trilogy of Hector Berlioz “The Childhood of Christ” – the concept of eternity of Christian love
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 1-96.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40192 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40192
Abstract:
The subject of research in this article is the vocal-symphonic concept of the oratorio-trilogy by Hector Berlioz “The Childhood of Christ” Op. 25, which is being viewed as a prime example of creative thought of that era (middle of XIX century), and being examined in form of analysis of musical composition, musical dramaturgy, fundamental plots and characters of Christianity, as well as emotional-psychological side of the musical content. Based on examination of the letters and Mémoires of Hector Berlioz the article presents a hypothesis on the genesis of the creative concept of the oeuvre, and offers facts from the history of its creation and performance. The plot motifs of Berlioz’s poetic libretto presented as units of the overall structure of the creative text. The author analyzes the particular aspects of the oratorio-theatrical embodiment of the space-time spiritual concept of eternity of Christian love, examines the fusion of spiritual and secular elements within the semantics of the creative text, gives attention to the specificity of the composition, musical dramaturgy, principles of polyphonic thought of the composer, synthesis of genre elements (oratorio, symphony, mystery play, and others), and reveals the correlation between Berlioz’s innovative musical thinking and the creative practice of the psychological realism within the French art and literature of 1850’s. Research methodology:- Musical-philosophical hermeneutical reconstruction of the process of structuring the creative idea and the aspects of its realization within the programmatic vocal-symphonic concept of the oratorio-trilogy.- Analysis pertaining to the musical philosophy of the score of “The Childhood of Christ” as a creative canon, which reflected the phenomenon of the topology of the path- Analysis of the musical and aesthetical aspects of the psychological realism within intonation-dramaturgical development of the work.Scientific novelty of the research consists in:- Discovery of Berlioz’s individual approach towards the critical perception of Christianity in France during 1850’s- Analytical justification of the position that composer’s interpretation of the Christian spiritual values, including the eternity of Christian love, presented in the oratorio-trilogy of “The Childhood of Christ” is relevant in the XXI century- Determination of the musical and aesthetical phenomenon of realistic vocal intonation, which is in a state of development of psychological and critical realism in the French art and literature of 1850’s- Musical and philosophical understanding of the functionality of spiritual and semantical concepts of the Christian “storge” and Christian “agape” in the musical dramaturgy of these parts of the work: “Herod’s Dream”, “Flight into Egypt”, and “The Arrival at Sais”.Main conclusions:1. The specificity of composer’s individual understanding of the psychological mystery of communication between human soul and God is reflected in the deep structure of the oratorio-trilogy “The Childhood of Christ” – the concept of eternity of Christian love2. The perception on this concept is relevant for the modern Christian world, and prompts us to change our attitude towards the life and creative heritage of Berlioz3. “The Childhood of Christ” is a great example for the French composers of the XIX-XX centuries, who created oratorio-theatrical works and significant forms of vocal-symphonic music based on the synthesis of arts and genres; among them are works by Charles Gounod, Jules Massenet, César Franck, Claude Debussy, Vincent d'Indy, Arthur Honegger, Francis Poulenc, and Olivier Messiaen.
Keywords:
Berlioz, oratorio-trilogy, vocal-symphonic concept, Childhood of Christ, Christian love, genre synthesis, agape, storge, Narrator, musical dramaturgy
General music theory
Reference:
Azarova V.V.
Oratorio-trilogy of Hector Berlioz “The Childhood of Christ” – the concept of eternity of Christian love
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 97-188.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40194 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40194
Abstract:
The subject of study in this article is a vocal-symphonic concept trilogy Hector Berlioz oratorio "The Childhood of Christ" Op. 25, considered as a special phenomenon of artistic thinking era (mid XIX century.) And in terms of the analysis of a musical composition, musical drama, the fundamental themes and images of Christianity, as well as the emotional and psychological side of music content.On the basis of letters and memoirs of Berlioz in the article the hypothesis about the origins of artistic design work, given the facts of the history of its creation and execution. Scene motives poetic libretto by Berlioz presented as units of the general structure of a literary text; Fine designated dialogue aspects of the literary program of works of Berlioz with images of the same scenes in the paintings of masters of Western painting XIV - XVI centuries. The author analyzes the features of oratorio-theatrical incarnation spatiotemporal spiritual concept of the eternity of Christian love, considering the connection of spiritual and secular elements in the semantics of a literary text, draws attention to the particular composition, musical drama, to the principles of polyphonic thinking of the composer, the synthesis of genre elements (oratorio, symphony , an ancient mystery, and others.), reveals the ratio of innovative thinking Berlioz's music with the artistic practice of psychological realism in literature and art in France 1850.Research methods:- Musical and philosophical hermeneutic reconstruction of the formation of the artistic design and features of its realization in the program's vocal-symphonic oratorio trilogy concept.- Linked to the philosophy of music analysis of the musical text (the score), "Childhood of Christ" as the artistic canon, which reflected the phenomenon of path topology, as well as the category the poetics of space.- Analysis of musical and aesthetic aspects of psychological realism in intonation and the dramatic development of the product.The novelty of the study is- In the detection of individual attitudes Berlioz's critical understanding of Christianity in France 1850- The analytical justification provisions: composer's interpretation of the spiritual values of Christianity in particular - the eternity of Christian love, presented in oratorio trilogy "Childhood of Christ" - is relevant in the XXI century.- To identify the musical-aesthetic phenomenon realistic vocal intonation, which is in line with the development of psychological and critical realism in French literature and art of the 1850s.- In the musical and philosophical understanding of spiritual functioning, semantic concepts of the Christian "storge" and Christian "agape" in the musical drama parts of the work: "Herod's Dream," "Flight into Egypt" and "The arrival at Sais"Main conclusions:1. Features of the individual composer's understanding of the psychological mystery of communion of the soul with God reflected in the deep structure of the trilogy oratorio "The Childhood of Christ" - the concept of the eternity of Christian love2. Perception called the concept of relevance to the contemporary Christian world, it leads to a change in attitude to the fate of the creative heritage and Berlioz.3. "The Childhood of Christ" - the highest example for French composers XIX - XX centuries, created the oratorio-theater works and major forms of vocal and symphonic music based on the synthesis of the arts, genre characteristics; among them - works by Gounod, Massenet, Franck, Debussy V. d'Indy, A. Honegger, Poulenc, Olivier Messiaen.
Keywords:
Berlioz, oratorial trilogy, vocal-symphonic concept, The Childhood of Christ, Eternity Christian love, synthesis of genres, agape, storge, Narrator, musical drama
Philosophy of Music
Reference:
Zakharov Y.
Individual harmonic design of a musical oeuvre
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 189-229.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40191 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40191
Abstract:
In this article, based on the analysis of musical oeuvre, the author attempts to determine the concept of its harmonic structure and formulate the leading idea that gave rise to this concept. The first part is dedicated to the elucidation of the phenomenological status of the notion “composer’s design”. Referring to the philosophical works of Aleksei Losev, the author defines the correlation between the notions “idea”, “eidos”, “realistic-material image of the final product”, and compares this triad with the correlation of initial idea (in composer’s mind), concept, and finished oeuvre. The object of research in the second part of the article is the Mozart’s chorus “Abendruhe”, Schumann’s chorus “Gute Nacht”, and piano play of Nikolai Myaskovsky from the cycle “Yellowed Pages” (Op. 31, No. 1). Having built the models of harmonic structures, the author formulates the leading ideas behind them, after which he makes the conclusions on the level of adequacy of the acquired formulations with the harmonic design. The novelty of this research consists in the elucidation of the content of the notion “composer’s design”, in comparison of the design with the analytical model, and in substantiation of the possibility of transition from the structure of the work towards the idea within it.
Keywords:
composer plan, idea and eidos, A.F. Losev, G. Schenker, linearity, harmonic analysis, reduction method, model, structure and meaning, functional theory, quint index
Musical form
Reference:
Lavrova S.V.
Philosophical view of the time category in New Music
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 230-247.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40189 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40189
Abstract:
The subject of the research is the problem of time in the new music, considered in the context of philosophical reflection. The category of time is considered through a prism of philosophy and new music. Two readings of time - time Chronos and Eon's time, according to the statement of the French philosopher G. Deleuze, are opposite. Music is defined substantially by the ordered current of time.Research method is based on a comparative analysis of philosophical concept and aesthetic-philosophical aims composers of the second half of the twentieth century. These settings are decisive in the spatial organization of the musical fabric. Structuring musical time and its various concepts is considered in a context of musical ideas of the Italian composer S. Sciarrino. Among compositions S. Sciarrino of analyzed in article, "Vanitas" - a huge paraphrase of a canzone of Stardust where the author addresses to emptiness Eon's metaphor. Opposing to Chronos and Eon as two forms of time, properties of the first is that it is limited and infinite. Eon is also boundless as the future and the past, but as an instant. S. Sciarrino's aspiration to the musical forms, adequate processes of activity of consciousness, and memory the Theory of duration of A.Bergson becomes one of the corresponding conclusions of article, is also connected with his theory of memory. By means of properties of memory the past and the present aren't mutually, they unite unity of knowledge.Scientific novelty of the paper is that for the first time analyzed the works of Sciarrino in the context of space and time, and for the first time carried out a comparative analysis of the music of the second half of the twentieth century, from the standpoint of philosophical categories.
Keywords:
Eon, Husserl, Bergson, Sciarrino, New music, space and time, Deleuze, musical - philosophical, emptiness, musical time
Musical form
Reference:
Lavrova S.V.
Time in New music: the problem of philosophical judgement.
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 248-264.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40188 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40188
Abstract:
The subject of the research is a philosophical understanding of the problem of time in the new music. Music as an art of time particularly acute problem confronts composer individual understanding of space-time categories. In the XX - XXI centuries. When the concept of musical time and the organization of sound events in the time continuum, correlated to the degree of density, constitute the author's reflection of his inner world, its philosophical understanding is more than relevant. Referring to the various philosophical concepts of time and projecting them on the creative ideas of composers of new music, author, building on the concepts of Chronos and Aeon in the interpretation of the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze, compares them with the concepts of time B.-A. Zimmermann and K. Stockhausen, refers to "the horizon of consciousness" Husserl and Bergson's conception of time, found their creative expression in music of Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino. Using as a tool for investigating the empirical method, the author comes to the conclusion regarding the generality of philosophical and musical concepts of time. Referring to the statements of the composers, explains his philosophical and sound concept, including O. Messiaen, B.-A. Zimmerman, K. Stockhausen, S. Sciarrino, the author puts forward a hypothesis as to what new music - it is not "art time", and reflection time.
Keywords:
Aeon, Chronos, E. Husserl, space and time, new music, Gilles Deleuze, musical composition, K. Stockhausen, reflection time, B.-A. Zimmerman
Forms and genres
Reference:
Petrov V.O.
Genesis and Evolution of Performance Art
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 265-292.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40196 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40196
Abstract:
Performance represents one of the major genres of art of the XX century. Its manifestation can be seen in literature, artwork, music, and theater. This article examines the historical roots of performance as a genre, which sprung in the syncretic ritual of ancient world, street theater, as well as art of Renaissance and Baroque eras. The author reviews the prolonged process of the ritual, commedia dell'arte, theatrical plays of da Vinci and D. Bernini in performances of the XX century. As an example, the author uses works of K. Stockhausen, I. Xenakis, J. Cage, L. Lipkis, and M. Dessi. Performance is being examined as a phenomenon of synthesis of arts, using the method of holistic analysis. Towards the end of the work, the author formulates a unified system for classifying performance that as it exists at the present time. An accent is made that all performances, in one way or another, in their implementation are based on intentional or unintentional epatage (element of shock), becoming the prerogative of a great number of works of art in the XX century.
Keywords:
Synthesis of arts, postmodernism, synthesizing, performance, performance art, art history, genre, theatricality, ritual, music
Forms and genres
Reference:
Petrov V.O.
Genesis and Evolution of Performance Art
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 293-321.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40195 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40195
Abstract:
Performance represents one of the major genres of art of the XX century. Its manifestation can be seen in literature, artwork, music, and theater. This article examines the historical roots of performance as a genre, which sprung in the syncretic ritual of ancient world, street theater, as well as art of Renaissance and Baroque eras. The author reviews the prolonged process of the ritual, commedia dell'arte, theatrical plays of da Vinci and D. Bernini in performances of the XX century. As an example, the author uses works of K. Stockhausen, I. Xenakis, J. Cage, L. Lipkis, and M. Dessi. Performance is being examined as a phenomenon of synthesis of arts, using the method of holistic analysis. Towards the end of the work, the author formulates a unified system for classifying performance that as it exists at the present time. An accent is made that all performances, in one way or another, in their implementation are based on intentional or unintentional epatage (element of shock), becoming the prerogative of a great number of works of art in the XX century.
Keywords:
Synthesis of the Arts, postmodernism, sinesteziynost, performance, actionism, art history, genre, theatricality, ritual, music
Opera house
Reference:
Saamishvili N.
The opera of Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”: questions of libretto and composing technique
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 322-340.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40193 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40193
Abstract:
This article is dedicated to the opera of the most produced modern Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”. This work is recognized as the masterpiece of the musical theatre of the XXI century, and received multiple awards, including Grammy in 2011. Libretto of the opera is based on the biography of a troubadour named Jaufre Rude, his fiery passion for the Countess of Tripoli of whom he has only heard, and his journey to meet the woman of his dreams. It encompasses such pages of history of world culture as the era of the Crusades in the XII century, Persian love poetry, and Biblical texts. The music in “L’amour de loin” is also an intertextual organism, with organically intertwined beauty of the orchestra fabric, thin scales of vocal intonations, and exquisite composing technique.
Keywords:
L’amour de loin, libretto, Kaija Saariaho, Finnish opera, Jaufre Rudel, Clé, mence, love, medieval poetry, troubadour, dramaturgy
Opera house
Reference:
Saamishvili N.
Saamishvili N.N. - The opera of Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”: questions of libretto and composing technique
// PHILHARMONICA. International Music Journal.
2015. ¹ 2.
P. 341-363.
DOI: 10.7256/2453-613X.2015.2.40190 URL: https://en.nbpublish.com/library_read_article.php?id=40190
Abstract:
This article is dedicated to the opera of the most produced modern Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”. This work is recognized as the masterpiece of the musical theatre of the XXI century, and received multiple awards, including Grammy in 2011. Libretto of the opera is based on the biography of a troubadour named Jaufre Rude, his fiery passion for the Countess of Tripoli of whom he has only heard, and his journey to meet the woman of his dreams. It encompasses such pages of history of world culture as the era of the Crusades in the XII century, Persian love poetry, and Biblical texts. The music in “L’amour de loin” is also an intertextual organism, with organically intertwined beauty of the orchestra fabric, thin scales of vocal intonations, and exquisite composing technique.
Keywords:
Kaija Saariaho, The Love from Afar, Contemporary opera, XXIth century, Troubadour J. Rudel, IRCAM, Finnish composer school, Amin Maalouf, Tristan and Isolde, Pelleas and Melisande